Fate and Macbeth’s Transformation
In the play Macbeth, by Shakespeare, Macbeth is influenced not only by his greed for power, but also by the witches’ use of the supernatural. However, his attention, subsequent action, and fulfillment of their prophecy lead to his downfall. Macbeth’s greed is guided by the prophecy, which accentuates his need and desire for dominance; moreover, his growing comfort with the idea of power lead him to murder Duncan and ascend to power. Lady Macbeth also influenced him to fulfill the prophecy and obtain even more sway in society. Therefore, Macbeth did not have free will when it came to his actions; instead fate, coupled with the witches’ and Lady Macbeth’s urgings, led to the killings of Duncan and Banquo. Macbeth’s actions were not of his own free will, but instead influenced …show more content…
Macbeth wanting to leave things up to chance quickly change to his desire to change fate when he kills Banquo and attempts to influence events in his favor by removing people who would challenge his ascension to power. His apprehension to achieve power subside when later on, Macbeth becomes entangled with his potential power when he says, “When first they put the name of king upon me/And bade them speak to him/Then, prophetlike, they hailed him father to a line of kings”(III.i. 57-60).
Here, Macbeth is stating that he is merely a pawn in fate’s big plan and that he essentially does not have any say in what he does or happens. This revelation leads Macbeth to attempt to secure the line to king and break fate’s intent by killing Banquo and attempting to kill his son resulting in him being king unopposed by fate in his view. He views this deal that fate “made” with him as futile and meaningless when he says,
Upon my head they placed a fruitless
In the play Macbeth, by Shakespeare, Macbeth is influenced not only by his greed for power, but also by the witches’ use of the supernatural. However, his attention, subsequent action, and fulfillment of their prophecy lead to his downfall. Macbeth’s greed is guided by the prophecy, which accentuates his need and desire for dominance; moreover, his growing comfort with the idea of power lead him to murder Duncan and ascend to power. Lady Macbeth also influenced him to fulfill the prophecy and obtain even more sway in society. Therefore, Macbeth did not have free will when it came to his actions; instead fate, coupled with the witches’ and Lady Macbeth’s urgings, led to the killings of Duncan and Banquo. Macbeth’s actions were not of his own free will, but instead influenced …show more content…
Macbeth wanting to leave things up to chance quickly change to his desire to change fate when he kills Banquo and attempts to influence events in his favor by removing people who would challenge his ascension to power. His apprehension to achieve power subside when later on, Macbeth becomes entangled with his potential power when he says, “When first they put the name of king upon me/And bade them speak to him/Then, prophetlike, they hailed him father to a line of kings”(III.i. 57-60).
Here, Macbeth is stating that he is merely a pawn in fate’s big plan and that he essentially does not have any say in what he does or happens. This revelation leads Macbeth to attempt to secure the line to king and break fate’s intent by killing Banquo and attempting to kill his son resulting in him being king unopposed by fate in his view. He views this deal that fate “made” with him as futile and meaningless when he says,
Upon my head they placed a fruitless